AOH Donates Irish Fest Proceeds

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On the evening of Monday, September 10, officers and members of Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division 21 of Rockaway Beach and Breezy Point once again held true to their motto of “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,” as they donated $23,000 of their 6th Annual Irish Festival proceeds to local parishes and organizations.

At the first stop, the Hibernians, led by President Mark Edwards, met Pastor Peter Rayder of Blessed Trinity Parish in Saint Thomas More Church to present the parish with a check for $2,500. Father Rayder appreciatively accepted the generous donation and announced that the donation will be earmarked for the parish’s youth group, so that the children can continue their great works of Christian charity for the elderly and infirmed of the Breezy Point community.

The next stop was at Saint Francis de Sales Rectory where the group gave an identical $2,500 check to Pastor William Sweeney. Father Sweeney graciously accepted the donated funds and said that he will personally see that it goes to a worthy cause in the parish.

The final stop of the evening saw the kind-hearted Irishmen stopping by St. Camillus Church to present Pastor Richard Ahlemeyer with a check for $15,000. Father Richard who has cordially hosted the Irish Festival at St. Camillus since its inception in 2013, thanked the Hibernians for their continuing generosity and Christian charity before gratefully accepting the money for his parish. He then invited the Division 21 Rockaway Irish Festival, which is a great family-friendly weekend event, back for a seventh year this coming June 1 and 2, 2019.

In addition to the donations to the three parishes, the Hibernians also made $1,500 donations to the Rockaway Rovers Gaelic Football Team and the Rockaway Knights of Columbus Council. This year’s round of donations brings the six-year total of Irish Fest proceeds bestowed to local parishes, Irish programs and Catholic organizations to just over $200,000.